Late heartbreak for Mount Pleasant
MOUNT Pleasant failed to take full advantage of the new head coach bounce when they were held to a thrilling 2-2 draw by lowly Molynes United at the UWI/Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence yesterday.
Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis was removed as head coach of Mount Pleasant last week and he was replaced by technical director, Englishman Wally Downs, but the St Ann-based club was unable to convert a good second-half effort into three points.
Nicholas Nelson fired Molynes in front after just four minutes and the underdogs appeared ready to pull off the upset after leading 1-0 at half-time. However, Downs must have said the right things during the break as Mount Pleasant turned the game in their favour with two lightning strikes early in the second half. Kession Hall struck in the 47th minute to hand Mount Pleasant the equaliser then three minutes later Liston James put the St Ann club in front. For much of the second half Mount Pleasant looked set to bag a valuable three points and move up to joint third in the league but Sergeni Frankson popped up in the 87th minute to deny them the win.
“We didnt start as well as we wanted,” Downs told STAR Sports.
“We went in one-nil down at halftime but we spoke to the players and I was really pleased with the response in the second half,” he said.
However, he pointed out that the club is currently in a transitional phase and despite just one win in three games, he is still confident they can challenge for the top spot this season.
“It is the transition of younger players into the squad. We let go about four to five players recently and we are bringing in new players. So when the transfer window opens we will be looking,” he declared. “We want to build a team that will definitely challenge this season and, hopefully, move forward into the next season as well. It’s about getting the youths in and helping them to transition through as quick as we can,” he stated.
He said they remain optimistic although it has been difficult finding the right mix of youth and experience
“We have some older players and some very young players. But we don’t have those players that are 21, 22 years old.
“The young boys we are bringing are very young and they missed a year of football last year, so it’s about getting the (right) blend of younger players with the senior players.
Mount Pleasant are sixth in the table on five points from four games, while Molynes are second from bottom with two points from three matches.
In the day’s other match, Vere United won 3-1 to hand Humble Lion their fourth defeat of the season. Vere are second in the standings with eight points, the same as leaders Harbour View. Harbour View have the better goal difference.